One of the main reasons I wanted to return to Chiang Mai on my most recent trip to Thailand was for khao soi. I’ve always thought this Northern Thai dish deserved more credit than it gets. In the U.S., every Thai restaurant has pad thai or satay skewers, yet few manage to offer khao soi, … Continued
Many Vietnamese restaurants in Chicago are on Argyle Street in the Uptown neighborhood, but Cà Phê Dá in Pilsen offers Vietnamese food served at a slightly higher level. The owners of Haisous on 18th Street opened the tiny coffee shop next door, where the pastries and sandwiches are truly remarkable.
Fast-food franchises rarely have memorable food, but a Korean company focusing on noodles, is making some memorable – and affordable – dishes, in a Glenview strip mall. The chain is based on a celebrity chef from Korea you’ve probably never heard of, but that doesn’t matter, because it’s all about the handmade noodles.
The team behind restaurants such as Alinea, Next and the Aviary has launched its first project outside of Chicago, in New York City. They’ve taken over the lobby of a mid-town hotel, and have transplanted their cutting edge cocktails, as well as their friendly Midwestern service to the Big Apple.
In the past, eating fresh salads greens or just-picked herbs only happened in the summertime in Chicago. Restaurants and grocery stores were always forced to import them during the winter. Not anymore.
Next Saturday is Homecoming at the University of Illinois, and despite my allegiance to visiting Wisconsin, I now have a reason to visit the Champaign-Urbana campus more often: my daughter. I figured a lot of Chicago-area parents might be heading down to see the game with their kids, so we did some legwork for you.
Rub’s Backcountry Smokehouse is a distant memory now that the BBQ Supply Co. is fully in charge along Western Avenue in the West Rogers Park neighborhood, near the city’s border with Evanston. When things weren’t going well, Rub’s decided to reconcept and refine the business. After six years, the upgrades have been significant – a new … Continued
Delis are not an easy business. On top of the food costs, there is labor and inventory, plus picky customers. A new Jewish-style deli in the North Center neighborhood is trying to do things old-school, but also being sensitive to price.
The West Loop continues to be the Wild West when it comes to restaurant development. There are new concepts from out-of-town, right alongside local brands that continue to expand in the area. But one of those out-of-towners is truly special. It’s well-known in Rome, but only recently decided to open its first location in the United … Continued
Oak Park is known for many things, including the Frank Lloyd Wright neighborhood and the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway. But if you ever plan on visiting, you must make a stop at a tiny bakery there. It’s hidden along Oak Park Avenue, across the street from the green line stop, and if you like pie, … Continued
Mexican Independence Day is coming up next weekend, and while the typical dish consumed that day is chiles en nogada, a pair of Mexico’s most beloved dishes are available year-round at one West Town restaurant. They’re called mole and pozole, and they each require several hours to make properly. The result of one woman’s lifetime … Continued